Chapter 121: The vast expanse of heaven and earth

Her birthday, Zhang Zhe actually said he remembered it.

Jiang Xuening felt that it was the most peaceful time in her previous life for the two of them. This person had never been so kind to herself before, and after a moment of confusion, she felt an uncontrollable joy in her heart.

However, in the blink of an eye, the eyebrows and eyes slowly lowered again.

The Heavenly Sect should not stay here for too long. Once everything is sorted out, they should take everyone away.

There are not many horses.

But Zhang Zhe has basically gained the trust of the Heavenly Sect, and he also said that he represents the people of Dujun Mountain, so he dare not neglect it at all, and has also arranged for a horse to be given to him.

Xiao Dingfei rode a horse when he arrived.

At this moment, he sat high on the steed and extended his palm to Jiang Xuening, smiling somewhat frivolously, "The journey to Tongzhou is far away. Miss, who is so delicate, should I take you on the journey?"

Surprisingly, she was invited to ride together.

Jiang Xuening knew that this person had a habit of only looking at people's faces, and coupled with the sudden feeling of not being very good at the moment, she glanced at him and was too lazy to pay attention.

Xiao Dingfei raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you want to ride the same horse as your 'brother'?"

Jiang Xuening said lazily, "What are you doing?"

Only these four words exude a slight sharpness, without the delicate feeling that the girl's facial features had previously given. However, Xiao Dingfei was born with low bones. The more flowers in the thorns, the more eager he was to try. Upon hearing this, he was not discouraged at all. Instead, he turned his gaze, which was somewhat mocking and scrutinizing, towards Zhang Zhe, who was leading a horse not far away.

Zhang Zhe: "..."

He didn't speak, just lowered his eyes to tidy up the saddle.

After a while, as everyone was about to leave, he reached out his hand to Jiang Xuening and rolled his Adam's apple slightly, seeming to hesitate for a moment before slowly saying, "Mount your horse."

Xiao Dingfei was not wrong. The journey to Tongzhou is not very close, although it will soon reach the town, there is no carriage available. Jiang Xuening, a young lady in the boudoir, should she go hiking?

Although there were many incongruities in etiquette, we had to act conveniently.

Jiang Xuening smiled lightly upon seeing the situation, handed her hand over, and was supported by Zhang Zhe to get on the horse. She lifted her eyes and coincidentally met Xiao Dingfei's unpleasant gaze, so she deliberately gave a provocative look back.

Xiao Dingfei has always had a way of coaxing women, not to mention that he has never seen such a person who doesn't give him face in the Qin Lou Chu Guan with this skin bag. Looking at this mask again, with a dull expression and no hint of emotion, it looks like a demon judge in the Yanwang Palace who judges the dead. Who would a normal girl like such a person?

The more you ponder, the more infuriating it becomes.

He bit his teeth slightly and let out a strange moan from his nose, "Hmph, siblings!"

But in the end, there was no more satire.

Xiao Dingfei just smiled as he looked at Zhang Zhe's seemingly flawless face, and immediately swung his whip, regardless of what others did, he rushed onto the mountain path outside the dilapidated temple.

Everyone else fell behind him.

At this moment, Zhang Zhe flipped over and mounted his horse.

When he sat behind Jiang Xuening, holding onto the saddle in front of him with both hands, he seemed to naturally embrace her in his arms.

That belongs to his refreshing breath, easily enveloping her.

Jiang Xuening's body was slightly stiff, unable to see the expression on Zhang Zhe's face behind her. She could only see the hands in front of her that were not particularly attractive. The fingers are long and the joints are distinct, making people unable to resist thinking that the owner of these hands is by no means a pampered person, they should have suffered hardships.

She didn't dare to lean back on her and only grabbed the edge of the saddle in front with a slight force.

The horse headed forward and followed the crowd.

The mountains in winter have a particularly cold silence.

All around are wilderness.

There was no sound of birds or birds, only the sound of the wind whistling past my ears and the sound of horses trampling on the snow and mud.

Riding the same horse as Zhang Zhe, it feels completely different from Yan Lin.

The young man was blazing with pride, practicing martial arts since childhood, and rushing along the wide roads of the capital. It seemed as if nothing could stop him in front of him, and those who quickly passed by from both sides of her line of sight were all bustling worlds.

The person behind him restrained himself, remained silent, and the winding mountain path was full of rugged and dangerous obstacles. From this horse, one could not see the end of the sky at a glance. The wind and snow covered the green trees and grass, losing their color. In the cold wind blowing, only the embrace behind him, which seemed to be embraced but not embraced, still exuded a faint warmth.

Jiang Xuening's mood gradually calmed down.

Zhang Zhe behind him couldn't see her expression either.

However, she sensed her unusual quietness.

The posture of silently staring ahead reminded him of the situation and expression on her birthday night in the previous life, and finally remembered the rumors about her background in the previous life in Beijing.

It was Jiang Boyou's wife Meng Shi's first daughter, but on the day of her birth, she was secretly exchanged with her daughter by a concubine who was hostile to Meng Shi in the back house. By mistake, she was deported to the farm with that concubine, and was kept by her for 14 years. It was difficult to return to Beijing.

Many people say that her sharp and cunning temper, which was out of place with her young lady, was caused by that lowly concubine.

Originally, not many people knew about this matter.

Even the Jiang Mansion publicly claimed that she only had a poor fate and had to be placed in foster care outside for fourteen years to recover from the disaster. Unexpectedly, after she became the queen, various rumors and rumors about her background spread like wildfire in the streets and alleys of the capital.

So, on every birthday, what does Jiang Xuening think of?

Girls are ultimately petite compared to adult men.

Even sitting in front of him, his head was barely pressing against his chin, and a small section of his delicate neck was exposed. His skin was as white as snow, but amidst these wild mountains and ridges, it gave a particularly fragile feeling.

Zhang Zhe suddenly felt as if something had knocked on his heart.

There is a faint pain.

===Kunning Section 157===

For a moment, he wanted to hold her in his arms without hesitation, but let his horse's hooves move forward through the mud without any movement. He only used his wide sleeve robe to silently block the cold wind that came towards her.

*

Tongzhou is only fifty miles away from the capital, and if there is a good horse, it will arrive in half an hour.

But now not everyone in this group has horses, and there are also many fugitives with criminal records inside, who have not changed their clean clothes and dare not swagger into the city at the fastest speed.

The people of Tianjiao obviously also considered this point.

On the way, they unexpectedly stopped outside a small village by the river.

At this moment, it was mid day, and the sun was shining, dispelling a bit of coldness. In the village, thatched cottages were built one after another, and occasionally the barking of dogs from several households could be heard. Outside, one could see the rising smoke from the kitchen.

Huang Qian blew a whistle outside the village, but without any movement, a few young men in coarse clothes and rags walked out of the village.

Both sides started talking over there.

Jiang Xuening dismounted with Zhang Zhe's hand and looked up to see this scene. She noticed that everyone around her stopped to rest, or talked to others, or looked around to check the situation, but didn't notice their side. She lowered her voice and asked, "Mr. Zhang, what's going on?"

She has been wanting to ask for a long time.

But most of the way, she was with everyone, and there was really no opportunity to communicate in front of everyone. Even if she had doubts in her heart, she couldn't find an opportunity to ask.

Zhang Zhe knew that what he had done this time was to risk himself, and he also had the intention to explain the whole story to her. However, just as he was about to speak, his eyes turned and he saw Feng Mingyu, who was sitting in the Heavenly Sect, walking towards him with a wrinkled face and a smile on his face.

So the words on my lips were taken back.

He looked at Feng Mingyu and said, "The people in this village are trustworthy. Can we settle down?"

Feng Mingyu smiled and said, "The members of our Heavenly Sect are all over the world, and there are brothers everywhere. We have already arranged for our people to come and take care of them. These great villains who have come out of the prison, if they don't change their clothes and dress up, they may not even be able to enter Tongzhou City. You can also have some food here later, rest for a whole afternoon, and then set off."

Zhang Zhe nodded and said, "Very good."

Feng Mingyu remained concerned for a few more words and even asked about Jiang Xuening's situation before leaving.

Everyone is resting outside the village.

The villagers even brought out their own prepared lunches, some sumptuous and some simple, as if they were close and affectionate towards the "Heavenly Cult Chaotic Party" that the court called them.

Last night, everyone didn't eat much, let alone most of them were living off a fast food?

I had a happy meal right now.

Jiang Xuening also made do with eating some.

The villagers also prepared some clean ordinary clothes, but obviously did not expect a girl to be here. They turned around and asked a woman from the village to bring clean clothes for her.

Others are all big men who are used to being carefree and change their clothes on the spot.

Zhang Zhe's complexion is not very attractive.

Jiang Xuening couldn't be like them, so she just spoke to Zhang Zhe and searched for a nearby forest, then walked deeper to change her shirt and robe.

She just went there for a while but didn't come back.

Zhang Zhe's eyebrows slowly furrowed.

After waiting for a while without seeing anyone, he said to Huang Qian and Feng Mingyu beside him, "Please wait a moment, I'll go take a look."

Huang Qian and Feng Mingyu naturally dare not say anything. Who knows if an accident happened to a girl's house in such a deserted wilderness?

But they dare not go and see it.

People are brought by Zhang Zhe, so it's natural for Zhang Zhe to see them, and no one doubts anything.

The forest in the mountains and fields this winter is not particularly deep, but even under heavy cover, it is difficult to see what is inside.

Zhang Zhe is really a bit worried.

I walked deep without seeing anyone, and within a few steps, I saw the light in front becoming brighter. It had already passed directly through the forest, and then I saw Jiang Xuening standing outside at the moment.

Outside this forest lies a river, with little water source in winter, lying calmly on the sunken riverbank.

The sunlight fell from a high altitude, and mist dispersed from the forest.

The water surface reflects the bright white sunlight, which then covers and flows onto the human body.

She had already changed into the simple clothes of a peasant woman, and the clothes that belonged to him were placed on a large stone by the river. The light blue fabric wrapped around her body, with no style or color to speak of, and it really didn't match this beautiful face.

Some women in the world seem to be born in a wealthy and prosperous hometown.

But Jiang Xuening himself was very calm and had no objections to this outfit, as if he had expected him to come over. He even blinked and smiled at him, "Do you have time to talk now?"

Zhang Zhe was slightly taken aback and then understood.

I would also like to know that Jiang Xuening, a woman, avoided the crowd to change clothes, while others had no relatives or connections with her. It is difficult to say what the situation is, so he can only come and find it alone.

And he will definitely come looking for it.

Just now he was concerned and chaotic, and he didn't expect to go to this level.

Jiang Xuening asked, "How could Mr. Zhang be here?"

Zhang Zhejian briefly said, "The Heavenly Sect colluded with the Prince of Pingnan to rebel and violated the taboo of the Holy One. When the imperial court suppressed the Heavenly Sect, they killed a leader named Gongyi Cheng of the Heavenly Sect. After learning some news about the Heavenly Sect, I pretended to be the Dujun Mountain person of the Heavenly Sect, who few people knew about. I investigated the situation inside the Heavenly Sect, so that we could eradicate it. I also knew about the prison robbery early on, but I didn't expect Miss Jiang Er to be there at that time..."

Jiang Xuening, of course, went to visit Yanlin.

She thought that the matter with the Marquis's Mansion was not small, and if Zhang Zhe was involved, she felt uneasy. Zhang Zhe didn't ask, so she didn't explain. She just looked at him like she wanted to get by.

Actually, Zhang Zhe had already thought about it last night.

Who else can make Jiang Xuening risk sneaking into the prison in the middle of the night wearing a black cloak?

Probably Yanlin.

Zhang Zhe did not investigate, but only said, "If you disappear without reason, Mr. Jiang must be worried. And this journey is really dangerous. Zhang should have rescued Miss Jiang as soon as possible, but now this village is also a place where the Heavenly Sect should respond, and he dare not leave you here. The Heavenly Sect has an important branch in Tongzhou, which is their largest stronghold in the north. When they discover its nest, they are afraid that there will be a fierce battle. The Yongding Pharmacy in Tongzhou City is the place where the court will receive her, so I will ask Miss Er to pretend to be sick. I can use this as an excuse to escort Miss out of danger and return to the capital."

Jiang Xuening felt a chill in her heart upon hearing this, but her gaze crossed the vast water surface and cast towards the vast expanse of heaven and earth outside, giving rise to an idea that had already hovered in her heart all the way——

Why return to the capital?

This is simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity bestowed upon her by heaven!

Upon her rebirth, everything she took the initiative to do or was forced to do was nothing more than to leave the capital and escape the imprisonment of her previous life.

The four high walls of the palace have become her nightmare.

How many times did she dream at midnight, only wanting to become a bird that she saw sitting under a leaky roof in her childhood, flying over the Nine Palaces, a nightmare from her previous life, to the rivers, lakes, and seas that You Fangyin had visited in the previous life and Yan Lin had talked about in this life, and to be free?

Now she has left the capital.

If she doesn't go back and fly away, who will know her whereabouts?

Although I don't have much silver with me, I can go all the way to Shu first, and there are also You Fangyin and Ren's salt fields. At least I don't have to worry about my livelihood. Where to go in the future, you can think about it later.

She doesn't want to go back.

Not at all.

She lowered her head and looked at the flat riverbank in front of her. She didn't know how to answer Zhang Zhe's words, feeling a bit uneasy. After a long time, she whispered, "But Mr. Zhang, what if I don't want to go back?"

Zhang Zhe was stunned.

Jiang Xuening finally turned her head and looked straight at him, without any hesitation, saying, "The days in the palace and the days in the capital are not enjoyable. I don't want to go back."

This statement is shocking to anyone.

Ladies and gentlemen of the boudoir, wandering outside, how could anyone be willing to wander outside instead of wanting to go back?

However, Zhang Zhe remained silent.

Her bright gaze seemed to be piercing into his heart, making him feel like he was going crazy.

Jiang Xuening saw that he was silent, so she pretended that he felt that she was not following the etiquette and had no behavior. She hung her head down and said, "I'm just joking, Mr. Zhang."

"Don't go back if you don't want to."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Zhe's voice came faintly.

Jiang Xuening looked up in shock and said, "Mr. Zhang?"

Her gaze met Zhang Zhe's gaze, but Zhang Zhe hesitated and said, "No one in Tongzhou knows your identity. When you arrive there, you will seek an opportunity to hide and leave the city before the imperial court besieges the Heavenly Sect. The same goes for you."

Jiang Xuening's astonishment suddenly turned into surprise.

It was like the dark clouds pressing down on her head suddenly dissipated, and her mood was like the flat river water on this riverbank, suddenly clarifying and shining, with an indescribable joy.

She almost jumped up and laughed, "Mr. Zhang is really good!"

The originally furrowed eyebrows and eyes were really stretched out, and a small face the size of a palm, without any makeup, had a more brilliant glow than before. Taking advantage of the rippling waves reflected on the river surface, it made people dizzy and mesmerized.

Zhang Zhe looked at this scene with almost cherishing eyes.

Whether in her past or present life, I have rarely seen her so carefree and unrestrained

Jiang Xuening's mood improved, and as she stepped on the riverbank, she saw several stones that had become flat under the river's erosion all year round. What came to mind, so she turned her head and tugged at his sleeve, blinking cleverly and saying, "Mr. Zhang, do you believe that throwing this stone will not sink immediately?"

Those few stones are all flat and relatively thin, so it may be more appropriate to call them "flakes".

He saw it, but his eyes dimmed slightly and he didn't speak.

Jiang Xuening only thought he didn't believe it, after all, when he was so popular and teasing him in his previous life, he also didn't believe it very much.

She raised her hand and threw the thin stone out.

This is a game that she often plays with her friends.

In the countryside, it is called "hitting the water float".

The flat stone flew out from between its fingers and touched the water surface, making an instant "pop" sound. It splashed some splashes of water, but did not immediately sink. Instead, it touched the water surface and flew forward, floating on it twice before finally sinking into the river with all its strength.

On the originally calm winter river surface, three ripples slowly bloomed from afar.

Double overlapping.

Wrinkled all over the lake with ripples.

Jiang Xuening thought she hadn't played manual labor for a long time, and didn't want her ability to dominate the countryside back then to be strong. Turning his head again to look at Zhang Zhe, he chuckled and stuffed the remaining two stones into his hand, "Do you want to give it a try, Mr. Zhang?"

The two stones landed in Zhang Zhe's dry palm.

There is still some mud and sand.

He took a silent glance, gently picked up one of them, paused when he raised his hand, and then threw it out.

With a thud.

===Kunning Section 158===

The stone plunged into the river as if drunk.

Jiang Xuening saw it and secretly smiled, almost getting angry.

Although Mr. Zhang is not from a good background and can endure hardships, he has no idea about playing games, let alone the games played by uneducated children in the countryside.

I couldn't even teach him for half a day in my previous life.

Zhang Zhe doesn't really want to learn either.

Unfortunately, she couldn't argue that she was the queen, so she wanted to see him make fun of her and relieve her boredom. Even if Zhang Zhe didn't want to, she still had to endure her unattractive expression and let her play around.

Seeing this scene again after two lifetimes, Jiang Xuening felt indescribably satisfied. However, as Zhang Zhe looked down at the remaining stone in his palm, he remembered that he seemed uninterested and unhappy in his previous life. Finally, he stuck out his tongue and restrained a bit.

At the other end of the forest, someone was shouting loudly.

Perhaps both of them have disappeared without a trace, which has made the Tianjiao group a bit worried.

Jiang Xuening shrugged her shoulders, realizing that it would make them suspicious if she came out too long, so she said, "I'll go back first, just say it's on the other side, I didn't see you."

After finishing speaking, pick up the clothes on the ground and walk back.

Zhang Zhe watched as her figure entered the forest, gradually disappearing, before slowly bowing his head back and looking at the stone in his palm.

The distant mountains are covered in white snow.

The noon sun shines on the river surface.

He stood on the riverbank amidst the rocks for a long time, without any ups and downs on his face. His slender and jointed fingers held the flat stone and gently threw it towards the river. The stone then floated three or four times, rubbing against the river surface, before sinking into the bottom of the water.

Ripples ripple and stack into patterns.

When holding the stone, the hand feels heavy; I threw it out and felt empty again.

The river is gradually calming down.

Zhang Zhe looked for a while before gradually wiping away the mud and dirt from his palm, and then turned around to walk back.